Starz prescribes ‘Painkiller’

Series kicks off on Sci Fi Channel in March

LAS VEGAS — John Malone’s recently formed full-service showbiz company Starz Media will bring its first show to the NATPE convention this week.

“Painkiller Jane” stars Kristanna Loken as a federal agent in the near future who discovers she has the power to recover quickly from even a severe injury.

At $1.5 million an episode, “Painkiller Jane” is considered expensive for a cable series. It kicks off on the Sci Fi Channel in March, and Starz Media will offer the 22 episodes to TV stations in weekend syndication beginning in September, said David Ozer, the syndication veteran who’s exec VP of sales for Starz Media.

Stations won’t pay cash for the series but will give up seven minutes within each hour to Starz for sale to national advertisers. Gil Grant (“24,” “NCIS”), an executive producer, is the showrunner. Jason Netter and Loken are also exec producers.

Nick Copus directed the first episode of “Jane,” which is based in Vancouver and produced by Insight Film Studios.